A crowd moves through the Stadium-Armory Metro in Washington, D.C., on its way to 50th anniversary festivities for the March on Washington. Photo by Sophia Nahli Allison.

Tens of thousands from all across the country made their way Saturday to the Lincoln Memorial to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. On Aug. 28, 1963, several hundred thousand had stood in sweltering heat to hear Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. deliver his historic “I Have A Dream” speech from steps of the memorial. At this past weekend’s 50th Anniversary March on Washington, speakers included  Martin Luther King III, the Rev. Al Sharpton, Georgia Rep. John Lewis and members of the families of Emmett Till and Trayvon Martin. “Dreams are for those who won’t accept reality as it is, so they dream of what is not there and make it possible,” Sharpton, who helped organize the event, told the cheering, nodding and clapping throngs that descended on the nation’s capital city. 

A crowd moves through the Stadium-Armory Metro in Washington, D.C., on its way to 50th anniversary festivities for the March on Washington. Photo by Sophia Nahli Allison.
A young girl sits on the Montgomery City Lines bus, a replica of the bus that Rosa Parks rode in 1955. Many who attended the 50th Anniversary March on Washington took time to visit the bus. Photo by Sophia Nahli Allison.
Ruby Townes, 74, a Harlem resident in New York City, sits on the sidelines as the crowd marches. She missed the March in 1963 and cried as she said, “I’m so happy. If I die today, tomorrow, I made this. I made this one.” Photo by Sophia Nahli Allison.
A police officer stands in front of the Lincoln Memorial as marchers head toward the Washington Monument. Photo by Sophia Nahli Allison.
A man in the crowd shouts, “Let us out,” as 50th Anniversary March on Washington attendees wait for security staff to move barricades as the march begins. Photo by Sophia Nahli Allison.
A woman listens to speeches Saturday that commemorated and celebrated the historic March On Washington, which took place 50 years ago on Aug. 28, 1963. Photo by Sophia Nahli Allison.
A pair in the crowd cheered for 50th anniversary speakers, which included Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Martin Luther King III and the Rev. Al Sharpton. Photo by Sophia Nahli Allison.
A large crowd gathers around the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Photo by Sophia Nahli Allison.
Youth from Impact Repertory Theatre perform in front of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial during activities commemorating the historic 1963 March on Washington. Photo by Sophia Nahli Allison.
A mother carries her daughter to the Lincoln Memorial, where the speeches are set to begin. Photo by Sophia Nahli Allison.
A sign inside a Washington metro station offers information during the March on Washington commemoration weekend. Photo by Sophia Nahli Allison.
Newscasters sit in a booth offering commentary during the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington. Photo by Sophia Nahli Allison.